Rescue teams battling severe weather conditions have recovered four more bodies from the site of the Binaliw landfill landslide in Cebu City, pushing the confirmed death toll to 30. The grim discovery was made on Friday, January 16, 2026, as operations persisted despite the challenging environment.
Recovery Efforts Amidst Adverse Conditions
According to Cebu City Councilor Dave Tumulak, who chairs the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, retrieval operations that began early Friday morning led to the recovery of the 27th victim at 9:36 AM. The 28th victim was found later at 12:10 PM.
In the afternoon, two additional bodies—one unidentified male and one female—were pulled from the debris. This brought the total number of confirmed fatalities to 30 individuals.
"Our rescuers want to recover everyone so the families can have closure and the team can finally head home," Tumulak stated, highlighting the dedication of the personnel on the ground.
Ongoing Operations and Current Status
The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) Cebu City reported that they are utilizing heavy equipment to stabilize the area. The search for the missing continues unabated, even as rain hampers the efforts.
The current status of the disaster is as follows:
- Confirmed Dead: 30
- Rescued and Treated: 18 (14 have already been discharged from the hospital)
- Still Missing: 6
The landslide, which occurred at the Binaliw landfill, has resulted in one of the most significant natural disaster responses in the area recently. The community and rescue teams remain focused on the difficult task of locating all missing persons.
Path Forward for the Community
As the rescue operations extend into another day, the focus remains on providing answers to grieving families. The persistence of the teams, working under the directive of officials like Councilor Tumulak, underscores the critical response to such tragedies in the Philippines.
The increasing death toll serves as a somber reminder of the destructive power of geological events and the importance of continued vigilance and robust disaster management protocols.
